Lukewarm Christians Hurt The Church

[Papist]

 

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-warns-against-lukewarm-faith-with-personal-story/

 

 

 

[HisChildForever]

I'm not a fan of that abbreviated quote, because it's not exactly what he said.

 

“Lukewarm Christians, without courage ... that hurts the Church so much because this tepid atmosphere draws you inside,” the Holy Father warned.

 

The consequence of this is that problems “arise among us, we no longer have the horizon or courage to pray towards heaven or the courage to proclaim the Gospel,” he stated.

 

He's also speaking about the impact a lukewarm faith has on the individual.

[Papist]

Are saying that there is a form of lukewarmness that does harm the Church?

[Basilisa Marie]

Lukewarm can either mean spiritual boredom or apathy.  Spiritual boredom is similar to spiritual darkness, and usually isn't chosen. Spiritual apathy is not putting the effort into trying to keep up a faith life.   Seems like he's talking about being so deep into your own head that you can't see the point of either a) reaching out in prayer to God or b) reaching out in service to others.  Probably both. 

 

I think it's important to make the distinction, because "lukewarm" Christians can (and is) sometimes be interpreted as those who aren't emotionally on fire for the faith.  

[Papist]

14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea,* write this:

‘The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the source of God’s creation, says this.

15 “I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot.

16 So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.

 

Revelation 3:14-16

[4588686]

Not as much as there not being a god, though.

[mysisterisalittlesister]

Not as much as there not being a god, though.

I must suppress the urge to put another head desk meme here...

[cappie]

 

14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea,* write this:

‘The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the source of God’s creation, says this.

15 “I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot.

16 So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.

 

Revelation 3:14-16

 

 

Jesus doesn’t like lukewarm beverages. He spits them out. Insipidity, something that’s the same temperature as the room, doesn’t do it for Him. That’s obviously a metaphor for something (unless you’re a hyper-literalist and think that Jesus drinks people).

 

Yet there’s no mention of the behaviors we’re often told are “worldly.” Is Jesus speaking in riddles, or will He explain what He means? What’s the difference between “hot” and “cold”? What makes a person “lukewarm”?

 

The next verse tells us. Specifically. It even starts with “ For or Because” so we won’t miss that it’s connected. Here’s why Jesus gets nauseated by “lukewarm” believers: "For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked."

 

The “lukewarm” people Jesus is criticizing think they have it all together, but they don’t. They think they are rich when they are actually poor; they think they can see when they are really blind; they think they need nothing when they are living on the streets. They have the worst of both worlds—all the smugness of wealth and all the neediness of poverty. They need help, but they think they’re well off.

 

This makes the rest of Jesus’ metaphor perfectly clear. “Lukewarm,” obviously, means a mixture of hot and cold, producing something bland and tepid. The Laodicean church combined feelings of passion for the Lord (hot) with the condition of being apart from the Lord (cold). The result is horrible: people in spiritual need who can’t recognize it because they think they’re doing great.

 

I think in this context “Lukewarm” means “self-righteous.”

 

A “lukewarm Christian” is not somebody who claims to follow Jesus but also does worldly things. It’s somebody who says “I don’t do worldly things, so I’m living in God’s will.” A “lukewarm Christian” is not somebody who claims to follow Jesus but only shows up on Sundays. It’s somebody who says, “God must be pleased with my devoted church attendance.” 

 

Lukewarm Christians are satisfied in themselves. Lukewarm Christians are proud of their spiritual commitment and pleased with all that they do for the Lord. Lukewarm Christians believe that they are living the right way, with all the right values, and all the right methods, and all the right works.

 

Except they aren’t. The fact that lukewarmness—self-righteousness—nauseates the Lord matches what He said (terrifyingly) about people who won’t make it into heaven: (Matthew 7:22–23)

 

These people did great works for the Lord—even miracles—and thought well of themselves, but they missed their need for the Lord Himself. Jesus said, “Only one thing is needful,” and it isn’t to do great works for Him. Jesus wants us to trust Him, rest in Him, believe in Him, see our need for Him, get to know Him, let Him get to know us. That’s all one thing: it’s called Faith

 

Just my opinion.......... :unsure:

Edited May 24, 2013 by cappie

[HisChildForever]

Are saying that there is a form of lukewarmness that does harm the Church?

 

I think you're missing a word in this question. Anyway. I'm saying that lukewarmness hurts the Church AND the individual who's lukewarm. I know the latter technically is the former. I just think the "meme" didn't do justice to the Holy Father's point.

[Papist]

Jesus doesn’t like lukewarm beverages. He spits them out. Insipidity, something that’s the same temperature as the room, doesn’t do it for Him. That’s obviously a metaphor for something (unless you’re a hyper-literalist and think that Jesus drinks people).

 

Yet there’s no mention of the behaviors we’re often told are “worldly.” Is Jesus speaking in riddles, or will He explain what He means? What’s the difference between “hot” and “cold”? What makes a person “lukewarm”?

 

The next verse tells us. Specifically. It even starts with “ For or Because” so we won’t miss that it’s connected. Here’s why Jesus gets nauseated by “lukewarm” believers: "For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked."

 

The “lukewarm” people Jesus is criticizing think they have it all together, but they don’t. They think they are rich when they are actually poor; they think they can see when they are really blind; they think they need nothing when they are living on the streets. They have the worst of both worlds—all the smugness of wealth and all the neediness of poverty. They need help, but they think they’re well off.

 

This makes the rest of Jesus’ metaphor perfectly clear. “Lukewarm,” obviously, means a mixture of hot and cold, producing something bland and tepid. The Laodicean church combined feelings of passion for the Lord (hot) with the condition of being apart from the Lord (cold). The result is horrible: people in spiritual need who can’t recognize it because they think they’re doing great.

 

I think in this context “Lukewarm” means “self-righteous.”

 

A “lukewarm Christian” is not somebody who claims to follow Jesus but also does worldly things. It’s somebody who says “I don’t do worldly things, so I’m living in God’s will.” A “lukewarm Christian” is not somebody who claims to follow Jesus but only shows up on Sundays. It’s somebody who says, “God must be pleased with my devoted church attendance.” 

 

Lukewarm Christians are satisfied in themselves. Lukewarm Christians are proud of their spiritual commitment and pleased with all that they do for the Lord. Lukewarm Christians believe that they are living the right way, with all the right values, and all the right methods, and all the right works.

 

Except they aren’t. The fact that lukewarmness—self-righteousness—nauseates the Lord matches what He said (terrifyingly) about people who won’t make it into heaven: (Matthew 7:22–23)

 

These people did great works for the Lord—even miracles—and thought well of themselves, but they missed their need for the Lord Himself. Jesus said, “Only one thing is needful,” and it isn’t to do great works for Him. Jesus wants us to trust Him, rest in Him, believe in Him, see our need for Him, get to know Him, let Him get to know us. That’s all one thing: it’s called Faith

 

Just my opinion.......... :unsure:

 

Interesting. I see what you are saying. I see a lukewarm christian is someone who is indifferent and unenthusiastic about their walk with God. They are comfortable with their earthly life and no longer hunger for spiritual communion with the Lord. I see this every where with people that only pray when they want/need something or when they are experiencing bad times. They are dormant at all other times with the token attendance at church on Sunday. There is a term “Sunday morning Christian” which refers to someone who typically goes to church on Sunday but is not influenced by the Lord any other day of the week. He is attempting to get his way into heaven with a minimal amount of effort and has not allowed the Lord to completely transform his life. Sadly, this describes the attitude of many Christians in the Body of Christ today.

 

Revelation 3:16 describes the church at Laodicea as being lukewarm and unenthusiastic about spiritual things. Verse 17 gives the reason for their spiritual tepidness, “For you say, ‘I am rich and affluent and have no need of anything,...” One could argue that this description accurately portrays many Christians today..

 

The church at Laodicea was located about 12 miles from Colossae, and is mentioned 4 times in the book of Colossians and once in 1 Timothy. Laodicea was one of the most politically important and financially flourishing cities in Asia Minor. Situated at the crossroads of three main trading highways, it was filled with people who were distinguished in the arts and sciences and had become a very wealthy financial center for the region. At the time of John’s writing the church in Laodicea was unfocused in their walk with the Lord and had become corrupted by wealth and prosperity of the world around them.

 

Jesus described their spiritual condition by saying, “I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.“ (Revelation 3:15-16).

 

I believe this is like many Christians today, the church at Laodicea had lost their zeal for the things of God. They were listless and indifferent concerning spiritual truth because the focus of their life seemed to be on the riches that they possessed instead of the God that had saved them. The can't serve two masters comes to mind. So, the Lord declares that they shall be rejected like nauseating  food and vomited out of His mouth.

 

Verse 17 describes their attitude, “For you say, ‘I am rich and affluent and have no need of anything,...”

 

While prosperity and an abundance of earthly things is a blessing from the Lord, it can also lead to spiritual sluggishness and a self-centered life style.

 

When the focus of your life is to satisfy your appetites with worldly pleasures, your spiritual condition will suffer.   There is nothing wrong with prosperity and possessing earthly things. But when earthly possessions are the main focus of your life, your hunger for spiritual things will suffer and lukewarmness will be the result. And God says that He will vomit out of his mouth the self-centered and lukewarm people that have lost their zeal for the Lord.  This I know from personal experience.